Rascal Flatts to perform on ‘American Idol’

NASHVILLE (AP) — Rascal Flatts will perform during the “American Idol” season finale on Wednesday.

The group will perform their hit “Bless the Broken Road” with Carrie Underwood, one of two finalists, the group’s publicist said Monday.

The show will air 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern from the Kodak Theater in Hollywood.

“I’ve always been a fan of the show,” said Rascal Flatts songwriter and bass player Jay DeMarcus. “I think it’s a great way for extraordinary talent to be discovered.

“I just hope that when it’s all said and done they don’t vote us off the show,” he joked.

Underwood, who will compete with Bo Bice for the title of American Idol, sang “Bless the Broken Road” earlier in the season.

The song spent six weeks at No. 1 on the country charts and is from Rascal Flatt’s double platinum album “Feels Like Today.”

“I think it’s always a challenge to sing a ballad that is that exposed and that intimate,” DeMarcus said. “I think she did a great job with it.”

This is the second time an American Idol contestant has performed one of the group’s hits. Josh Gracin, who finished fourth in the second season, sang “I’m Movin’ On.”